La Valise, Mexico City: a new project designed by Chic by Accident"The design emphasizes avant garde Mexican modernism pioneers from the twentieth century, and the hotel maintains a strong tie to the arts through an ongoing artist residency program."

While I was in Mexico City a few years back, I reached out to Emmanuel Piccault of Chic By Accident, a designer responsible for some exceptionally creative interiors pushing Mexican Modernism into the international spotlight. The morning we met him in the Roma Norte, he took us on a walking tour of the two locations where he had opened the concept driven Chic by Accident and Dead by Accident (images here). In the midst of touring Dead by Accident, a quite strong earthquake began the shake the walls and ceramics, and then abruptly stopped. Emmanuel Piccault's Chic by Accident is responsible for the new townhouse for rent, La Valise in the Colonia Roma Norte. "The design emphasizes avant garde Mexican modernism pioneers from the twentieth century, and the hotel maintains a strong tie to the arts through an ongoing artist residency program." Looking forward to staying here on our next trip to Mexico City! - David John

La Valise is your home away from home, a luxurious townhouse with three unique luxury suites. The design emphasizes avant garde Mexican modernism pioneers from the twentieth century, and the hotel maintains a strong tie to the arts through an ongoing artist residency program. The hotel is located in the Colonia Roma Norte, a cultural center of Mexico City. Built in the early twentieth century, La Roma is a quiet neighborhood with an eclectic collection of colonial, art deco and neoclassical houses on tree-lined streets filled with contemporary art galleries, independent clothing stores, restaurants, and many trendy nightlife venues.

"On the first floor of a building of the Porfirian era, the candor of the twentieth century architecture contrasts with simplicity and contemporary elegance. A symbiosis between Mexican and European sensibilities informs the perspective of Chic by Accident. A black velvet Marcel sofa and a center table covered with crocodile skin are contrasted by terracotta pups from Colima by French-Mexican artist Carlos Ranc— which, reinterpreted, turns them into the guardians of the space. Style does not come at the expense of comfort. The bedroom features a luxurious king size bed covered with Vivenda cotton textiles and cushions by Maggie Galton, as light filters in from an adjacent courtyard where an artisanal Yucatecan hammock and a swing float as if time stood still. A separate room next to the terrace contains a kitchen with refrigerator, electric grill, coffee and tea with delicious baked goods by Panadería Rosetta, bottled water by Casa del Agua, and a variety of fresh fruits and nuts. The shower room, separate from the bathroom, features a white bathtub, which contrasts with colorful handmade geometric tiles that again solidifies the fusion between European and Mexican styles."

"The bedroom features a luxurious king size bed covered with Vivenda cotton textiles and cushions by Maggie Galton, as light filters in from an adjacent courtyard where an artisanal Yucatecan hammock and a swing float as if time stood still...."

"La Valise breaks the myth that sequels are never good. Chic by Accident’s curated interiors highlight the contrast between the light finish of the wood floors with an eclectic red carpet and iron chairs. A velvet armchair sits below circular lamps from the 1970s, which illuminate black leather-covered shelves emerging from the walls. The interventions by interior designer Emmanuel Picault do not go unnoticed. Between the bedroom and the living room, a fiberglass ‘moon’ crosses the space unexpectedly. In an alcove, the queen size bed, featuring textiles by Vivenda and a hand-embroidered bedspread from the artisanal workshops of Maggie Dalton, is flanked by two bedside tables covered with dark green leather. Chromed handblown glass lamps illuminate the space.

As elsewhere in the hotel, Mexican style permeates again the atmosphere. A copper, sisal and green leather armoire holds wool blankets handmade in the nearby state of Mexico and extra goose-down pillows, inviting you to take a nap or enjoy a good book. The bathroom, painted Mexican Pink, pays tribute to the architect Luis Barragán—this vibrate tone was one of his favorite colors. A corridor leads to the shower room, equipped with a bench to rest and a white bathtub. A large window in a marble and mosaic frame allows plenty of natural light to stream into the space."

"The interventions by interior designer Emmanuel Picault do not go unnoticed. Between the bedroom and the living room, a fiberglass ‘moon’ crosses the space unexpectedly. "

The bathroom, painted Mexican Pink, pays tribute to the architect Luis Barragán—this vibrate tone was one of his favorite colors. A corridor leads to the shower room, equipped with a bench to rest and a white bathtub. A large window in a marble and mosaic frame allows plenty of natural light to stream into the space.

"The best kept secret Hotel La Valise is the surreal third and final suite. On the top floor, the desire to sleep under the stars becomes a reality. The king size bed can easily move from inside the bedroom to the rooftop terrace. The living room combines the key elements of Chic by Accident: wood, velvet and metal. A fireplace with blown glass spheres and a pair of framed paintings allude to a syncretism of influence from both France and Mexico. "